I went to college at UW-Stout, and had a job in Spring Valley for awhile there are plenty of bears in that area. We even jumped one tracking a deer in October of 2007, just south of Spring Valley. They are around.

I was told by DNR a couple years ago that every county in the state has bears. I saw one in Walworth county 2 years ago near Zenda in the spring. You're not that far from Black River Falls, Clark county, Chippewa county, Price, Taylor. All counties with tons of bear.